Health and social care organisations are being urged to ensure that their staff are vaccinated against the flu ahead of this year’s winter, a time which always places greater strain on the NHS.
All NHS organisations provide their staff with the vaccine; aiming to minimise the risk of spreading the seasonal flu virus to patients.
Liz Mearns, Medical Director for NHS England South West North said: “As health and social care professionals, we have a responsibility to the patients we care for.
“The impact of the virus on frail and vulnerable patients can be serious, even fatal, and outbreaks can cause severe disruption in communities, care homes and hospitals.
“It’s vital that we all protect ourselves against infection; helping to reduce the spread of further infection to vulnerable patients who are more at risk of developing further serious complications from infection.”
Healthcare workers are more likely to be exposed to the influenza virus, particularly during winter months.
It has been estimated that up to one in four healthcare workers may become infected with influenza during a mild influenza season – a much higher incidence than expected in the general population.
This year, health and social care workers who work with already vulnerable patients in hospice and residential nursing home settings are all being urged to have the flu vaccination as soon as possible,
Typically the elderly, the very young, and people with underlying medical conditions are at a greater risk of suffering severe illness.
However, even previously healthy people and the young can develop severe complications from influenza including bronchitis and pneumonia.
Public Health England is also urging care homes to get prepared this year to help protect the most vulnerable people in the community.
Dr Julie Yates, Screening and Immunisations Lead at Public Health England said: “We know from last year’s figures that care homes were the most affected by flu outbreaks, with 78.9% of all flu outbreaks occurring in care homes and 266 of these in the South West.
“This is why it is so important that we focus our efforts around vaccination and prevention for care homes.
“We know that many residents who become ill might also need to be admitted to hospital and this is normally at the time of year when services are already under pressure.
“I would urge anyone who works in an environment with vulnerable people to take up the offer of a free flu vaccine.
“The vaccine not only helps to protect staff themselves and their immediate families, but also helps to protect these very vulnerable residents.”